GISD working on plans for on-campus instruction

Graham ISD’s District Improvement Team started work last week to create a plan to begin school with students and staff on campus for the 2020-2021 school year. Districts across the country have been tasked with finding safe ways to start school with in-person sessions while also working to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The DIT, led by GISD Superintendent Sonny Cruse, met on Thursday and split the team into three groups to work on protocols for a safe opening on Aug. 17. Teachers return to campus on Aug. 10. The three groups were split between working on protocols for parents/visitors, students and staff.

To open the meeting, Cruse addressed the teams and announced results from a preliminary survey sent to GISD parents to gauge how many students could be on campus when the school year begins. Cruse said that roughly 20% of the responses opted to start the school year in a remote learning environment. Texas Education Agency dictates that parents do not have to make an official decision until 10 days prior to the start of the school year; for GISD, that deadline is Aug. 7.

On July 17, the TEA released more guidance to assist districts in formulating their back to school plans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The release states that districts must post for parents and the general public, one week before the start of on-campus activities and instruction, a summary of the plan they will follow to mitigate COVID-19 spread in their schools based on the requirements and recommendations outlined by the TEA. GISD intends to release the first draft of its plan on July 27.

For the rest of the story, see the July 22 edition of The Graham Leader.